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A controversial plan to build a crematorium in Flintshire has been rejected by Flintshire County Council.

Memoria Ltd’s application to build the facility on lane at Oakenholt Lane, near Northop and Connah’s Quay, was turned down by the planning committee following a lengthy debate at County Hall in Mold this afternoon.

Councillors voted 13-8 to refuse the proposal, despite it being recommended for approval by planning officers, saying they had concerns over highway issues.

Flintshire County Council planning officers had received eight letters of support for the Memoria application and 136 letters of objection.

Speaking after the meeting, Jamieson Hodgson, business development director for Memoria Ltd told the Daily Post: “We have to wait for the official reasons for refusal to come through before taking a decision on appeal. We are expecting it to be highways-based judging from comments and also some landscaping issues.

“Bearing in mind there were no objections from highways and an independent traffic report was conducted and individual advice on landscaping given, we are likely to appeal.”

Earlier today, the planning committee had visited the proposed site where they were met by around 50 campaigners waving placards in opposition to the application.

Many of the campaigners were from the Say Yes to Flintshire Crematorium Facebook page, which has nearly 2,000 members, and also the No To Northop Hall Crematorium Facebook group, which has around 230 members, both of which are in support of a rival bid by funeral director Edward Davies.

Mr Davies, who has had a previous application rejected by the council last October, has resubmitted an application to build a crematorium on Starkey Lane near Northop, just two miles from Memoria Ltd’s proposed site.

Cllr Carol Ellis told members at today’s council meeting: “I asked for both applications to be considered together. The roads supporting this proposed crematorium are just not suitable. Widening the entrance won’t make it safer, it will just increase danger on roads already deemed dangerous.”

Cllr Ron Hampson, who was in favour of the application, said: “We look like our council cannot make up its mind. We cannot be seen to be stumbling about. I hope we make a decision to vote in favour of this application.”

Grieving families from Flintshire currently have to travel to crematoriums in Blacon, Wrexham or Colwyn Bay.

Cheshire West and Chester Council told the Daily Post waiting times at Chester Crematorium at Blacon are currently two weeks, while one family from Connah’s Quay recently waited 22 days for an available slot.

At Blacon crematorium, funeral services for those who do not live in the area also cost more – for residents, the cost is £590 including a 30-minute chapel service, while for non-residents the cost is £648.

Edwards Davies said after the meeting: “I am pleased for the residents of Oakenholt Lane/ Papermill Lane, Northop Hall and Northop, that the planning committee has today refused Memoria’s application.

“Hopefully Flintshire County Council will now be in a position to take my application to committee so Flintshire can have its own crematorium, which is long overdue.”